Underpaid truck drivers recoup $35k

Truck drivers near the border of New South Wales and Victoria have been handed $35,000 in back-payments after an investigation revealed their employers paid them incorrectly.

The largest recovery stemming from the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) investigation was $25,200 for two employees at a trucking firm near Albury. They were underpaid wages and allowances for two years from 2010.

Two drivers at an Albury trucking business were underpaid their minimum wages between 2010 and 2012. FWO inspectors recouped $9,800 for the drivers.

The FWO says the employers in both cases were not aware of the minimum wages and allowances that applied to the drivers.

"It is important that employers ensure they understand their obligations in regards to wages and entitlements because even a small error in base rates, if left unchecked for a long period, can lead to a significant underpayment," Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Michael Campbell says.

He says the businesses cooperated with Fair Work inspectors, resulting in the employees being reimbursed all money owed without the need for legal action.

"We adopt a flexible, fair approach and our aim is to work with employers to educate them and help them voluntarily rectify any issues we identify. These businesses have now put processes in place to ensure the errors will not happen again," Campbell says.